PRIVATE SCHOOL REPORT: MCS needs win to help capture playoff spot

Published 4:37 pm, Monday, November 2, 2015

Mug of Midland Christian football head coach Greg McClendon photographed Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Midland Christian. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Mug of Midland Christian football head coach Greg McClendon photographed Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Midland Christian. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: James Durbin

PRIVATE SCHOOL REPORT: MCS needs win to help capture playoff spot

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

The Midland Christian football team’s playoff picture is murky heading into its final game of the season at Fort Worth Nolan Catholic this Friday.

Only the top three teams in TAPPS Division I, District 1 are assured postseason berths. As of now, there is a three-way tie in district for the third-place spot between Argyle Liberty, Dallas Bishop Lynch and Fort Worth Nolan at 3-3.

Based on recent precedent though, the Mustangs (4-5, 2-4 in TAPPS Division I, District 1), who are tied for sixth with Addison Trinity Christian, still have a chance to make the postseason. In the previous two seasons, three additional teams, outside of the three automatic qualifiers, have earned wild-card berths out of TAPPS Division I, District 1.

Midland Christian holds a head-to-head win over Addison Trinity and the latter faces a stiff test in TAPPS Division I defending state champion Dallas Bishop Dunne this Friday.

But MCS head coach Greg McClendon says his team can’t count on three wild-card berths being extended to his district. McClendon says the only thing his Mustangs can control is winning against Fort Worth Nolan and improving their resume in the process.

“All the playoff stuff is up in the air and we’re not going to know until probably Saturday exactly where everything falls,” McClendon said. “But we win and we’re in. We lose and we have to wait and see.”

In 2014’s regular season finale, the MCS outlasted Fort Worth Nolan 23-20 in overtime to secure a wild-card berth, while knocking out Vikings out of the playoffs. Both programs have storied histories in TAPPS, but have fallen to the middle of the pack in the district over the last couple of seasons.

Fort Worth Nolan won Division I state championships between 2011-13 and the Mustangs accomplished the same feat with Division II state titles from 2011-13.

“It was a knockdown, drag out, over the top, rope battle royale,” McClendon said of the 2014 game versus Nolan. “That’s what we better be expecting going in. We got a lot of respect for Nolan. I think that in a lot of ways, our programs mirror each other, have mirrored each other over the years, the type of kids that we build and the way we approach the game and stuff. It will be a good game.”

NEEDHAM BREAKS OUT

AT WIDE RECEIVER

With senior Westin Elliott entrenched at quarterback, MCS backup Anderson Needham has only thrown five passes behind center this year.

On Friday, McClendon inserted Needham at wide receiver and the sophomore responded by catching five passes for 144 yards in Midland Christian’s 51-29 loss to Dallas Bishop Dunne.

“Anderson is an athlete and he’s a player,” McClendon said. “We have seen signs of what he did in practice. We knew he could do it at any given time and he really stepped up and made some big plays.”

Midland Christian outgained Bishop Dunne, 474-399, in total yardage and racked up more first downs with 23 to 20, but were beset by five turnovers compared to three by the unbeaten Falcons (9-0, 6-0).

“We fought a little bit short-handed,” McClendon said. “You can’t ask more of the kids from what we got from them on Friday night.”

BAIANO, TRINITY USE AIR

ASSAULT TO DOWN OVILLA

Senior quarterback Vincent Baiano enjoyed a prolific performance on Thursday night as he completed 22 of 27 passes for 385 yards and 10 touchdowns during Trinity’s 72-24 victory over Red Oak Ovilla Christian. Baiano did not throw an interception while averaging 14.2 yards per pass attempt.

“I can’t really put all those touchdowns on one player,” Chargers head coach Antwan Alexander said of Baiano’s 10 touchdown passes. “Yes, he did throw the ball, but at the same time, the guys that were blocking for him and everybody understanding the plays was big for us.

“The receivers being in the right spot, making the adjustments when we needed to make the adjustments and then catching the ball. At this time of the year, you want everybody to be on the same page and that seems what is going on right now.”

No. 3 Trinity (7-2, 3-1 in TAPPS Six-Man Division I, District 1) kept pace with No. 1 Rockwall Heritage (7-2, 3-1) and No. 2 Watauga Harvest (7-2, 3-1) for first place in the district standings. The Chargers close out with a home game versus Dallas Lutheran at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Coombes Field.

RODENKO BOXES OUT

OPPOSING DEFENSIVE BACKS

Trinity wide receiver Peter Rodenko grabbed six receptions for 104 yards and five touchdowns versus Ovilla. Alexander says the senior uses his size to his advantage on the gridiron.

“He is starting to realize, he is the biggest receiver, the biggest guy out there as far as playing receiver,” Alexander said. “He is a basketball player. We talk to him in basketball terminology, throw the ball up and allow him to go up and rebound.”